Vic to blame for inquiry delay: Gillard

Mr Baillieu pushed for a Productivity Commission inquiry into the issue, which was rejected by the commonwealth.

However the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed around four months ago to appoint a three-member independent panel to examine construction costs, which would deliver a report to state and territory leaders by July 2013.

But who will sit on the panel and its terms of reference have yet to be announced.

Mr Baillieu has accused the federal government of stalling because it does not really want the inquiry.

Ms Gillard said the commonwealth had given the states and territories names of people who should serve on the panel.

"There were discussions about that; there has been no agreement from Victoria about the identities of people to go on the panel," she told reporters in Melbourne on Friday.

"Given it was Victoria that was particularly pressing for this inquiry, we're really waiting for Victoria to step forward and agree to the very eminent Australians whose names we've put forward - including some very eminent Victorians."

A Victorian government spokeswoman said the state had already responded to the commonwealth's proposals regarding the inquiry panel.

"Victoria has provided very clear feedback. We understand the other states have too," she said in a statement.

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